Alternate Best Actor 1969: Results

5. Michael Caine in The Italian Job - Caine gives an appropriately charming performance and that's all there really is to it.

Best Scene: Croker is confronted by Mr.Bridger's men.

4. Lino Ventura in Army of Shadows - Ventura gives an effective withdrawn portrayal of a man who's learned to live in the darkness involved in the methods of the French resistance.

Best Scene: The death run. 

3. Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider - Hopper makes the most out of a rather thin role, and benefits from particularly strong chemistry with his co-stars.

Best Scene: The second campfire with George. 

2. Jean Louis Trintignant in Z - Trintignant gives an effective performance by making a very precise impact in his rather strict role.

Best Scene: The magistrate interrogates the main conspirator.

1. William Holden in The Wild Bunch - Well Holden very easily stood out for me as the best of these nominees and the only person I had to think twice about against the top two from the actual nominees. Holden gives a great performance by being uncompromising in his intense depiction of a violent man while managing to find some poignancy within the man's moral code.

Best Scene: The remainder of the bunch celebrating after their "victory".

Overall Rank:

1. Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy
2. Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy 
3. William Holden in The Wild Bunch
4. Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 
5. Jean Louis Trintignant in Z
6. Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 
7. Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider
8. Peter Fonda in Easy Rider
9. Oliver Reed in The Assassination Bureau
10. Peter Finch in The Red Tent
11. Lino Ventura in Army of Shadows
12. Richard Widmark in Death of a Gunfighter
13. Elliot Gould in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
14. Dirk Bogarde in The Damned
15. James Garner in Support Your Local Sheriff!
16. Michael Caine in The Italian Job
17. Walter Matthau in Cactus Flower
18. Robert Redford in Downhill Racer
19. Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? 
20. Robert Culp in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
21. Woody Allen in Take The Money And Run
22. Steve McQueen in The Reivers
23. Clint Eastwood in Paint Your Wagon
24. James Mason in Age of Consent
25. Richard Burton in Anne of the Thousand Days
26. Mitch Vogel in The Reivers 
27. Peter O'Toole in Goodbye, Mr. Chips
28. Kurt Russell in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
29. John Wayne in True Grit
30. George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
31. Lee Marvin in Paint Your Wagon 
32. Richard Thomas in Last Summer
33. Bruce Davison in Last Summer
34. Wendell Burton in The Sterile Cuckoo
35. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hercules in New York

Next Year: 1969 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1969: William Holden in The Wild Bunch

William Holden did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Pike Bishop in The Wild Bunch.

The Wild Bunch is an effective film about a group of violent outlaws attempting to find a big score while being hounded by railroad men and losing their place in the increasingly civilized nature of the west.

William Holden is perhaps best known for his portrayals of endearing yet usually somewhat morally questionable or at least sardonic protagonists in films like Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, and The Bridge on the River Kwai. As the head of the group named the Wild Bunch it may seem Pike Bishop might be in a similar vein for Holden. The opening scene though bluntly corrects that false notion as the opening credits are listed as Pike and his crew make their way through a town dressed as soldiers to carefully approach the town's bank. Holden presents Pike as obviously quite determined as his plan seems to being going on through his head as he approaches the target. When he and his men make their move into the bank Holden ends the credits and really opens the film with his vicious delivery of "if they move kill em!" towards one of his men referring to the unlucky individuals stuck in the bank. Holden carries himself with a brutal intensity as in his voice there is the sense of the lack of mercy in the man, and Holden expresses the fact that Pike does not care one iota for the lives of the innocent bystanders.

Holden does not hold back in the opening scene realizing that Pike really is not that rather lovable outlaw that could have been the lead in a western, even in a western of 1969 with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid being very much in that vein. Pike is a hard man and Holden plays him as such. When all hell breaks loose due to an ambush of railroad men accompanied by a former member of the Wild Bunch Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan), the bunch themselves in no way seem concerned about collateral damage. Holden portrays Pike only as a professional in the moment keeping his head with a fierce determination, while in no way expressing much sympathy for all the random people being gun downed in the carnage. Holden brings the remorselessness of a true killer in his performance. Holden does not just simply go along in the action scene but instead always reinforces the nature of Pike through his uncompromising manner. Holden's work matches the violence of director Sam Peckinpah's vision, as he creates Pike Bishop as a man formed by this violence, and as a man who could possibly exist within such a world.

After their bloody escape they have lost more than one man, with one of the men having escaped with them though having been shot in the face while being unable to see. This leaves Pike having to mercy kill the man.  In the moment Holden does not portray it as a great emotional toll on Pike to do this exactly at least in the way one would think. Holden is incredibly effective in the scene as he does not show this as Pike being some sort of psychopath, but rather as very much hardened by his life of doing such things for so long. This is not to say that Holden plays Pike as strictly unemotional in this regard. Holden is excellent in this scene portraying such a searing exasperation in Pike as he has to kill the man. Holden exudes the wear his time as an outlaw on Pike brilliantly as you see in his face years of bloodshed without really anything to show for it. There is a remarkable moment when Pike fails to mount his horse the first time and as he is insulted by his men briefly. Holden's reaction is a perfect as he shows Pike's moment of resignation to frankly being past his prime and having to live with it.

Holden is terrific because he is able to find Pike's particular place in his life as an outlaw. This is essentially summed up after the opening heist where they successfully take the loot and make their escape, though not with rather severe casualties and finding out that all they stole were washers planted in the place of the gold. Holden's performance presents Pike in very much the same way in that his best days are behind him though he's not done yet, after all he still has not been caught. Holden still has the presence and the command in the part making it absolutely believable that Pike is still the leader of the group, and still capable of pulling off a difficult job. At the same time though Holden does bring a whole certain desperation about Pike. He's somewhat pained and Holden suggests that the life is much harder for him than it ever was before. Holden's especially good in his portrayal of the enthusiasm Pike has for the job. Where some of the other members clearly revel in it, there is only ever a temporary glimpse of happiness in Pike, showing that Pike does not necessarily even get much of a thrill out of life anymore. 

Although Pike is an outlaw and really a coldblooded killer technically speaking he is not without a certain code. That code being for his fellow members. There's an honest warmth in the quiet scenes between Pike and his right hand man Dutch (Ernest Borgnine), as they realize the understanding between the two which is even though they live rough lives they are loyal to each other. This creates one thing that does bother Pike in his failures is leaving men behind which is how his old ally Thornton went to jail and came to work for the railroad. Holden brings a surprising poignancy to his silent moments where remembers Thornton and the other people he has left in the past. In the moment Holden brings a genuine sadness in Pike as Holden expresses the way Pike is haunted by these mistakes of the past. Holden finds this as a powerful guilt in Pike throughout, and carefully shows that is something that pains him to his very core since he really is not living up to his personal beliefs. There is one particularly strong moments where Pike defends Thornton which Holden delivers with a considerable passion that seems fueled by his past.

It is really up to Holden to give sense to the final act of the Wild Bunch. They finally have a successful score by helping out a questionable Mexican general, although it leaves one of their own captured although that's entirely his own fault. Holden first is perfect in the scene where they try to celebrate at a brothel nearby and Holden is rather moving actually by showing that Pike still can't find happiness within his accomplishment or even himself. Holden through this makes the final actions of the group convincing as their walk to save their last man is Pike finally truly fulfilling his sense of honor. Holden in the scene shows Pike perhaps at his most determined, and his most assured as he is being a man of his word. Holden really has a very tricky part here given that it would be easy enough to make Pike so despicable that he is too off-putting to watch. What is so compelling about Holden's work is that he no way sugarcoats Pike's character. In portraying his more vicious moments Holden does not compromise showing Pike as the final man he is. Holden is perhaps all the more intriguing in that he is able to create sympathy for Pike through his honest portrait of the man's personal code.

Alternate Best Actor 1969

And the Nominees Were Not:

Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider

Lino Ventura in Army of Shadows

William Holden in The Wild Bunch

Michael Caine in The Italian Job

Jean Louis Trintignant in Z

Best Actor 1953: Results

5. Richard Burton in The Robe- Although I found much of his performance hilarious it was not for the right reasons, also whenever he is not unintentionally funny he is rather dull.

4. Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity- His expert command of the character infusing both a dominating presence with an underlying warmness especially well.

3. Marlon Brando in Julius Caesar- Brando really on a whole is not given much to do, but what he has he makes the most of it. His major speech is made a pivotal moment in the film because of Brando's utterly stunning performance.

2. Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity-  Clift is outstanding throughout his performance perfectly bringing to life the struggle of Prewitt. In fact his performance is so effective that he actually brings more out of characters he does not even portray.

1. William Holden in Stalag 17- I will admit this is probably my favorite of these performances in terms of how much I enjoy watching them. I could watch Holden brilliantly sardonic turn over and over again that simply could not bring out more in his character.

Deserving Performances:
James Mason in Julius Caesar

Best Actor 1953: William Holden in Stalag 17

William Holden won his Oscar from his second nomination for portraying Sgt. J.J. Sefton in Stalag 17.

Stalag 17 tells the story of a informer inside the barracks of a P.O.W. camp during World War II.

I guess I should say there will be some more obvious spoilers in this review as they are really required for me to appropriately and fully describe what I see in this performance. The second thing I should say is that I find it quite amusing that William Holden apparently found the part too unlikable and cynical, and did not want to play it. I find this quite amusing becuase William Holden probably ties with William Powell for best portraying a multitude of the most cynical and sardonic characters in film history.

This performance as Sefton certainly is one of Holden's most cynical character, and really is perfectly cast in the role. What I really like about this performance though is how it changes during the initial viewing of the film, and the subsequent viewings of the film.  In the first viewing, my first viewing anyway, I did not know who the traitor was and it very well could have been Sefton since I did not know what manner the film was going to go in.

William Holden for me has the perfect mystery and intrigue in about the first half of the film where it seems all to likely that Sefton may in fact be the informer only to be able to get a slightly nicer time in the prison camp. Holden perfectly expresses Sefton's cynical nature at all times being that this is simply who Sefton is, and it will exploit or bet on anything to get ahead in some way. Holden tunes Sefton's nature well as having the right degree of mystery as whether he would go so far to sell out his fellow countrymen, or not.

Well here is the spoiler, Sefton is not the traitor someone else in the camp is therefore, Holden is required to do something quite difficult. He must become the man you are suppose to completely hate and instead become the man you are suppose to at least like and somewhat sympathize with in his troublesome position int he prison camp being the only person who knows for sure he is not the traitor after all. Holden manages to to do this with a great ease merely by creating an urgency and honesty out of Sefton, not out of nowhere, but something he merely hid with his sardonic humor the rest of the time.

On my second viewing I found Holden this time simply entertaining as well as effective throughout the film. I just love his whole delivery throughout every single moment he has. Holden just does the whole sardonic cyncial nature of Sefton absolutely perfectly making him just an enjoyable character to watch even when he is being quite the jerk, I still found him likable as well due to Holden still finding a creating deal of charisma with his cyncial character nonetheless. I found myself enjoying every moment of his performance from beginning to end largely becuase of the incredible ease he has throughout the film. This is not the most complex performance of all time, but it is a character that Holden brings out to its fullest in a most enjoyable fashion.

Best Actor 1953

And the Nominees Were:

Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity

Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity

William Holden in Stalag 17

Marlon Brando in Julius Caesar

Richard Burton in The Robe

Best Actor 1950: Results

5. Louis Calhern in The Magnificent Yankee- I will say it again that Calhern is just fine as Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, but only just fine.

4. Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride- Spencer Tracy is very good in this film being both an interesting presence to follow through sometime purposely mundane situations, and fins the right amount of humor when he can.

3.Jose Ferrer in Cyrano De Bergerac- Ferrer is very strong in every speech he makes from his most explosively and overly dramatic ones to his more tender romantic ones. I do not think the film uses his performance particularly well, and Ferrer does not have anyone who can really act all that well with, but nonetheless gives a strong performance.

2.William Holden in Sunset Blvd.- William does an incredibly good job at being cynical, and finds the right if sometimes bizarre tone for his scenes with Gloria Swanson.

1. James Stewart in Harvey- I put him here because the film he is in and everything with in it would have been an absolute incredible failure if Stewart was not able to make Elwood such a likable, poignant, endearing, and most importantly believable character. Elwood is an incredible challenge and Stewart manages to meet it. 

Deserving Performances:
Toshiro Mifune in Rashomon

Best Actor 1950: William Holden in Sunset Blvd.

William Holden received his first Oscar nomination for portraying B-movie writer Joe Gillis in Sunset Blvd.

Many films that are deemed classics, can be rather disappointing when you finally see them. Not this one though I thought he was just about brilliant, with a truly fascinating story.

William Holden is well suited for this certain sort of leading role, because all there are some aspects of the traditional leading man, but combined with a great amount of cynicism. William Holden is one of the best actors at being cynical only possibly matched by a few other actors like William Powell for example. Holden is great at though, and this role requires quite a bit of cynicism. Holden excels with his cynical performance which includes his narration. This style of performing which is the main focus the first half of the film, is perfectly handled by Holden, who adds a great amount of humor with this. This cynicism is very much needed for his portrait of Hollywood which is made perfectly scathing by Wilder's script, and Holden's performance. This style of performance Holden's cynicism never becomes old or tired for me though and he still remains charming despite how he always is.

After Gillis' repeated failures to make money through his usual means he by chance goes to an old home, of a has been actress Norman Desmond (Gloria Swanson). Gillis and Desmond begin to start a relationship in which both manipulate each other for different means. Holden and Swanson work marvelously together, but this is not the normal type of actor, actress relationship. Holden though seemed to know how extremely good Swanson was. That is why for much of the time Holden does react in his more normal more realistic portrayal, to Swanson's more purposely over the top performance. He lets her go so to speak most of the time and reacts, and always reacts properly. Sometimes in reaction in small ways to manipulate her, pity her, or become manipulated by her. This a strange relationship surely but both actors make it both interesting and believable despite the oddity of it.

The only part of the film I did not find overly impressive was the romance with an aspiring writer Betty Schaefer (Nancy Olson).Despite it not being the best moment of the film Holden is very good anyways, showing Gillis in a better light not being nearly as cynical as before. He shows that Gillis can be a better person, and Holden becomes very charismatic, and gives strong more traditionally romantic lead performance. I will admit Olson's and Holden's chemistry is nothing overly special, but Holden is still good nonetheless. Due to this portion of his performance Holden's performance is rather interesting since he manages to make Gillis believable as both a romantic and a cynic. A difficult maneuver but one which Holden achieves without fault. He mixes both the cynicism with the romance exceptionally making both showing that maybe Gillis puts on a little bit of a facade but still at the same time only a little bit of a facade.

The final  scenes Holden is very strong when Gillis realizes that he can no longer deal with Norma. Holden leads to this very well, actually showing how the frustration and exhaustion had reached a point in which was simply to far. He also showed that Gillis perhaps found that he really was not the man he though the was although this comes a little late for Gillis.  Now the film does not spend an a whole lot of time specifically showing this struggle and change in Gillis, but Holden I feel still manages to show it especially well. I feel his character does really change and really grows through Holden's portrayal which makes the ending of the film all the more deliciously cynical in its own way. Overall Holden gives a strong leading performance, which leads the audience through the sometimes very strange story of Sunset Blvd.

Best Actor 1950

And the Nominees Were:

William Holden in Sunset Boulevard 

James Stewart in Harvey

Jose Ferrer in Cyrano De Bergerac

Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride

Louis Calhern in The Magnificent Yankee

What is your prediction? Who do you pick?

Best Actor 1976: Results

5. Sylvester Stallone in Rocky- Stallone simply is Rocky and makes for an endearing hero for us to root for.

4. William Holden in Network- Holden is effective in the film and is one of most human part of it, I just wish he had a little more to do.

3. Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver- De Niro gives an effective portrayal of his character's troubled state.

2.Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties- He is just perfect in a bizarre role, and someone makes his lowlife of a character likable. He never falters once with his complicated character.

1. Peter Finch in Network- Finch here is brilliant every time he is on screen and energizes his film every time he appears. He makes Howard Beale the most memorable part of a very memorable film.

Best Actor 1976: William Holden in Network

William Holden received his third and final Oscar nomination for portraying Max Schumacher in Network.

Network is a very interesting film, and is incredibly well done in certain aspects. There are a few problems I have in the film, some of the things are a little too hard to believe, and the aspects involving the communist and terrorist groups kind of went from satire to farce.

William Holden plays Max Schumacher, an aged news president who does not like the changing way of the network, and is one of the few normalish people in the film. The only person who is truly human is Schumacher's wife, but Schumacher is closest to a normal human after her. Holden therefore does not constantly go over the top, and instead Holden is one of the few performance in the film that is mostly understated. He does a fine job of internalizing his feelings at times, although still letting the audience know them, without yelling, although he does that too.

Holden gives mostly a reactionary role. He always is reacting to basically the craziness of almost all  the other character. Holden though does speak out on occasion and he does this well. He always shows that Schumacher really cannot stand the new nature of people, and the loss of humanity of the people. His last two speeches to Fay Dunaway's character are brilliant done by Holden and these scenes are the strongest moments in his performance. The way Holden really uses his own age and face to show that Schumacher sees that he is closer to being dead than alive is completely brilliant on his part, on the fact that Sideny Lumet used that too. His performance certainly is strong, and good, but I did feel his role was a bit limited in some ways.

 He  seemed slightly limited in that he had  either one type of reaction of sad disbelief or the other of yelling back about his older age or about the lack of humanity in people. But these two reactions are always correct when he does them. I do not have a single problem with Holden's performance though, and he certainly was strong throughout the film. I do not think Holden does a single thing wrong in this performance, but I did feel he could have done a lot more if he was given more screen time and more to do. His character had a purpose and Holden served it but in the end his role did become a bit thankless at time since he went away completely from the films at times, and stopped being involved with the network at all.  I wish he had one more scene with Howard Beale, or with Frank Hackett to be involved with the network more time, but Holden still is always good in the film, and still gives a strong performance.

Best Actor 1976

And the Nominees Were:
Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties

William Holden in Network

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky

Peter Finch in Network

Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver 


Who is your Pick? Who do you predict I will Pick?